Is Australian Democracy Under Threat in South Australia? The Risks of Bypassing Referendums

Recently, One Nation’s Game criticised the SA Liberals’ decision to vote against her amendment to limit the number of committees that can be established for the SA First Nations Voice. The SA Voice is a perfect example of how governments across Australia are trashing our democracy.

Ms Game argued that the Liberal Party’s decision contradicts their stand against the Voice and could result in South Australia having more than 40 elected members for the SA First Nations Voice. She proposed that the First Nations Voice should only establish further committees if it cannot adequately inform itself. 

In a representative democracy, the power ultimately resides with the people. Australia’s constitution explicitly establishes our country as a democracy. 

Because we are a democracy, any legislation that affects the Australian constitution is subject to a referendum vote. A referendum vote allows the people to express their opinion and have a say in important decisions that affect their lives. Unfortunately, some lawmakers push through legislation before it goes to a referendum vote. 

A great example is the battle we have fought in South Australia as a state Labor ‘Voice bill’ in their aspiration to become the first state in Australia to enshrine this radical left-wing ideology. The Government’s bill is not only bad for our community, but it's also a violation of democratic principles.  

This suggests that both the Liberal and Labor parties seem comfortable with passing laws without holding a referendum vote, which violates democratic principles. When the Labor Party bypasses a referendum, it gives the impression that they believe they know what is best for the community, which is a problematic mindset in a democratic society. This can lead to a sense of exclusion and disengagement in the community, damaging the trust between the people and their elected representatives. 

Another reason it's not in the community's best interest to disallow a vote on the SA Voice is because it can lead to unintended consequences. Laws and policies pushed through without proper consultation with the community can have unintended consequences. This is because the Labor government may not have a complete understanding of the issues at hand or the impact that their legislation may have on the community. By not allowing the community a say, the Labor government risks making decisions not in the community's best interest. 

Additionally, pushing through legislation before it goes to a referendum vote leads to polarisation within the community. When people feel that their voices are not being heard, they are more likely to become angry and frustrated. This is not a healthy situation for any community to be in, and it can lead to long-lasting divisions that are difficult to heal. 

Pushing through legislation before it goes to a referendum vote is not in the best interest of South Australians. It undermines the democratic process, leads to unintended consequences, and can lead to a polarisation within the community. The South Australian Labor Party would have been wise to wait; instead, they chose to signal to the rest of the country they chose to show off and disregard the people of Australia. Removing the sovereignty of the Aboriginal culture and putting it in the hands of the Australian government also cements the belief that the Labor Government will do whatever it takes to obtain as much power as possible. 

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